As per the latest study conducted by Cihan Kaya and colleagues, scientists at Bakirkoy Dr Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, the severity of endometriosis can be accurately predicted by serum caspase- 3 levels. 

Caspases are one of the types of proteases which help to regulate cell death. The study was conducted  to evaluate the role of caspases in predicting the severity of endometriosis. A total of 90 females who went through laparoscopic surgery due to benign ovarian cysts or endometrioma were included in the analysis. These patients were analyzed for serum caspase 3, Soluble Fas Ligand (sFasL) and Annexin A2 (ANXA2) levels.

A total of three groups were formed. The control group comprised 29 patients; the second group involved 29 patients with stage I-II endometriosis and the third involved 30 patients with III-IV endometriosis stages. The levels of caspase-3, sFasL and ANXA2 showed a considerable variation between control and stage II-IV endometriosis stages (p < 0.001;  p = 0.007 and  p = 0.022 respectively) and also between I-II and II-IV endometriosis stages ( p < 0.001;  p = 0.002 and  p = 0.044 respectively). As per receiver operating characteristic analysis outcomes, caspase-3 exhibited more specificity and sensitivity as compared to ANXA2 and sFasL. The caspase-3 with the area under curve 93% at 10.7 ng/mL cut-off level showed 87% specificity and 90% sensitivity.